Somatotopic organization of trigeminal ganglion: three-dimensional reconstruction of three divisions.

Clearing the somatotopic organization of trigeminal ganglion can help us to improve the precision of treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. The distribution of primary afferent perikarya of 3 branches of trigeminal nerve in the trigeminal ganglion was investigated in the rabbit, and 3D model was reconstructed then. After application of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase and DiI to the cut endings of the 3 branches of trigeminal nerve, ophthalmic cells were found in the anteromedial part of the trigeminal ganglion, mandibular cells in the posterolateral part, and maxillary cells in the middle part. The results suggest that the somatotopic organization of the ganglion in rabbits is a mediolateral direction reflecting the mediolateral order of the ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular nerves.